April 2023

Established by former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger in 1986, the Month of the Military Child has since been celebrated every April to recognize the 1.6 million children of our men and women in uniform. From watching their parents leave home to serve overseas or attend various training exercises, to moving every few years when it is time to change duty stations, I am forever grateful for the sacrifices that military children make to support the brave men and women of our nation’s great military.

Jackie D. Sanders was born in Union City on May 13, 1932, to Bill and Ruth (Drew) Sanders.

He was the third of five children. Union City was Jack’s home his entire life.

He graduated from Union City High School in 1950. He joined the Army National Guard, 45th Infantry Division. He was deployed in September of 1950 to the Occupation of Japan and was also stationed in Korea. He was honorably discharged in September 1952.

After returning home, Jack started farming and working for the Bureau of Prisons in El Reno until he retired.

Members of the Canadian County Elementary Honor Society - Maple School Chapter, front row from left, Harper Looper, Payton Blagg, Halli Ferguson, Ellie Shamblin, Alice Park and Gavin Basler; back row, Brantlie Charmasson, Pierson Brandley, Maelee Moss, Ethan Brooks, Jackson Arnold and Presley Bilderback. Not pictured: Adison Steffler.

On April 25, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his intention to seek re-election in 2024.

“The question we’re facing,” Biden says in his announcement video, “is whether in the years ahead, we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer.”

“I know what I want the answer to be,” he continues, “and I think you do, too.”

Of course, it’s not about what anyone “wants” the answer to be. It’s about what the answer actually is.

The number of our rights doesn’t change, because we don’t get our rights from presidents, elections or constitutions.

DEL CITY – While other schools in the league were left scrambling to make up lost games due to rain, a little sacrifice by El Reno High School’s baseball team led to the Indians third straight sweep.

Giving up a home game to set up a road doubleheader, El Reno run-ruled Del City twice by scores of 11-1 and 19-1 to lock up fifth place in the District 5A-1 standings with a 6-8 record.

After a series of near misses in recent years, El Reno High School is headed back to the Class 5A Girls State Golf Championships with a full squad.

El Reno took fourth place in the Class 5A West Regional played on the Aqua Canyon Course at Cimarron National Golf Club in Guthrie last week. The event was shortened to nine holes due to rain.

The Indians carded a 196 score, led by Skylar Ayers with a round of 45, followed by duplicate rounds of 49 from Kallie Maifield and Madison Patswald. Emma Patswald posted a 53 and Trinity Black a 67.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite holding a 14-6 edge in shots during the second half, El Reno High School’s girls soccer team dropped a 2-1 match to Mount St. Mary last week.

The loss was the third in a row for El Reno, which closes out the 2023 season with a 5-8 record.

The Rockets led 1-0 at the half following a goal in the first eight minutes.

El Reno tied the match with 24:57 left in the second half when Lily Hayes took a shot from the left side which was cleared by a MSM defender into the net.

OKLAHOMA CITY – In one of the quickest matches this season, El Reno High School’s boys soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to Mount St. Mary last week to close out the 2023 season.

Both the boys and girls matches were trimmed back to a pair of 30-minute halves separated by a five-minute halftime. The move was done to avoid pending rainstorms.

The loss was the fourth in a row for El Reno, three by shutouts, dropping the Indians to 3-10 on the year.

The Rockets scored in the 25th and eighth minutes to lead 2-0 at the half, before adding a goal in the second half.